In through Bilbao and out from Madrid

[Deb and John]

A bit more research and two new guide books and now we need a new thread for a revised, if still loose plan. Building on my partner's interest to experience the Meseta and the Guggenheim, we discovered that a multi city flight from Ottawa into Bilbao and out of Madrid is in the same price and time range. With the potential to add another week, why not! With five weeks, we'd add Bilbao, Burgos and the Mesata to a gentler walk to Santiago, with any extra days to explore Madrid. Has anyone else had experience with something similar? Or other suggestions?

 

[naplesdon]

I have visited Bilbao many times, it is fabulous city and besides the museum there is plenty to see, do and places to eat. I always stay at Hotel San Mames, it is in neighborhood which is in revival and 1/2 block from the bus station with easy access to the trolley system, it is slightly off the beaten path and good value for the price.
I am taking the bus from Bilbao to Burgos in August and there is one early in the morning which only takes about an hour and half. Enjoy your walk.

 

[Lydia Gillen]

The Maritime Museum is well worth a visit also.
There is a funicular railway up the very steep hill to the north of the city leads to a lovely park. The station for it is at one of the stops of the tour bus.
Enjoy your trip

 

[peregrina2000]

For my perhaps unadventurous tastes in art, the Museo de Bellas Artes is well worth a visit. I enjoyed walking around the Guggenheim, both inside and out, but did not enjoy the exhibitions as much (I remember one display of sunflowers dipped in lead that sort of summed up the whole experience for me, but that's just me). Anyway, the Museo de Bellas Artes is nearby, in a nice park, and has a collection including a Goya portrait, and a painting by Sorolla that I like a lot. Plus all the usual Spanish suspects -- Ribera, Murillo, etc. Bilbao is a really nice citiy -- such a change from back in the 70s when one of my friends married a guy from Bilbao and every Spaniard we knew in Madrid was worried for her.

And I agree with Don about the great food -- Don, can you give us some favorite places to eat?

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[naplesdon]

For my perhaps unadventurous tastes in art, the Museo de Bellas Artes is well worth a visit. I enjoyed walking around the Guggenheim, both inside and out, but did not enjoy the exhibitions as much (I remember one display of sunflowers dipped in lead that sort of summed up the whole experience for me, but that's just me). Anyway, the Museo de Bellas Artes is nearby, in a nice park, and has a collection including a Goya portrait, and a painting by Sorolla that I like a lot. Plus all the usual Spanish suspects -- Ribera, Murillo, etc. Bilbao is a really nice citiy -- such a change from back in the 70s when one of my friends married a guy from Bilbao and every Spaniard we knew in Madrid was worried for her.

And I agree with Don about the great food -- Don, can you give us some favorite places to eat?

Buen camino, Laurie

The names escape me, there is a "Italian" place which features every sort of pasta known to man with a variety of sauce choices as well as wonderful pizzas, I tend to gravitate to that one because pasta is not that popular in my part of France. Lots of great tapas bars on the east end of town before you cross the river.

 

[peregrina2000]

The names escape me, there is a "Italian" place which features every sort of pasta known to man with a variety of sauce choices as well as wonderful pizzas, I tend to gravitate to that one because pasta is not that popular in my part of France. Lots of great tapas bars on the east end of town before you cross the river.

Thanks, Don, last summer at the start of the Camino Olvidado I spent a day in Bilbao and had an amazing tapas experience around the cathedral, is that the area you are referring to?

 

[naplesdon]

Thanks, Don, last summer at the start of the Camino Olvidado I spent a day in Bilbao and had an amazing tapas experience around the cathedral, is that the area you are referring to?

Actually I'm talking about the other side of the river, sadly I have never wandered over to the "old" side of Bilbao. I will be there in August and make sure to visit the cathedral and explore the other side of the river.

 

[peregrina2000]

Actually I'm talking about the other side of the river, sadly I have never wandered over to the "old" side of Bilbao. I will be there in August and make sure to visit the cathedral and explore the other side of the river.

So that leads me to conclude that Bilbao is a tapas heaven!!!

 

[naplesdon]

So that leads me to conclude that Bilbao is a tapas heaven!!!

As is San Sebastian, Pamplona and Biarritz!

 

[naplesdon]

So that leads me to conclude that Bilbao is a tapas heaven!!!

Reminds me, if Mendiwalker would come out of hiding, he could probably recommend 1000's of places in Bilboa.

 

[christy wharton]

A bit more research and two new guide books and now we need a new thread for a revised, if still loose plan. Building on my partner's interest to experience the Meseta and the Guggenheim, we discovered that a multi city flight from Ottawa into Bilbao and out of Madrid is in the same price and time range. With the potential to add another week, why not! With five weeks, we'd add Bilbao, Burgos and the Mesata to a gentler walk to Santiago, with any extra days to explore Madrid. Has anyone else had experience with something similar? Or other suggestions?

Bilbao - beautiful riverside walk to Guggenheim and and Bella Arts? from lovely compact old town by Cathedral -great Basque food and music buzz at night -see worlds fastest game in Pelota Alley in Plaza Nueva. Short bus ride from outside airport arrivals to centro. Train to Burgos is about 9am from Abando (with giant mural) near old town. I came back from SDC via a few days in wonderful Madrid, again a straight regular bus run in from airport doors. A great start and finish to a Camino of net 20 days. buen camino. I returned to them both!!